Maretzek Italian Opera: Ernani

“Tonight, Ernani sung by Mme Guerrabella, Mazzoleri, Bellini and Biachi.”

“The announcement of Verdi’s most pleasing opera, ‘Ernani,’ drew a fashionable and most appreciative audience last evening to the Academy of Music. The performance was a most successful one. All the artists were in excellent voice, and drew from the audience enthusiastic applause. We have never heard Mme. Guerrabella to such advantage as in the role of Elvira. She sang the music sweetly, without any effort, and, from that very fact, was all the more successful. The cavatina in the first act she rendered with great expression and grace, and was loudly applauded. In fact, throughout the opera she received warm tokens of approval. Signora Mazzoleni, Belini and Biachi were also immensely successful. The grand finale of the first act was received amid enthusiastic applause. We lack space to enter into the details of the performance, but would refer especially to the terzetto in the second act, sung by Mme. Guerrabella, Mazzoleni and Biachi, which was never sung with more spirit. It was encored, and as effort was made by the delighted audience to [illeg.] artists to sing it a third time. The finale of the third act stirred the audience up to a similar show of enthusiastic approval. In fact, the opera was successful from the commencement to the end. The artists were all called before the curtain after each act.”

“There was a much finer house present last night than might have been expected the excruciating character of the war news of the week considered.  If the laws, as the adage says, yield to arms, the muses must do so likewise.  The city, however, had been enlivened during yesterday by the magnificent reception given to some of the heroes of the late fight; and patriotism found vent in further demonstrations at the opera, instead of hugging solitude and sorrow at home.

Part of article highlighting upcoming performances.

            “Mme. Guerrabella, who sang, last Friday, the role of Elvira with great success, will soon appear in ‘Ione,’ and will doubtless prove equally attractive in that most difficult role. She sang in ‘Ernani’ with expression and sweetness, made no effort to be unusually forcible, and, as we have before stated, was more successful from that very fact. Her stage presence is eminently attractive; she dresses with exquisite taste, and will look the character of Ione to perfection.”